Jordan Poole converted Donte DiVincenzo’s inbounds pass into a layup with 2.4 seconds remaining, allowing the Golden State Warriors to survive Stephen Curry’s ejection in a wild finish that resulted in a 122-120 victory over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies in San Francisco on Wednesday night, January 25.
After Ja Morant brilliantly fed Brandon Clarke for a tying dunk with 6.3 seconds to go, the Warriors advanced the ball to halfcourt with a timeout and then watched Klay Thompson miss a 19-footer.
The rebound deflected off the Grizzlies, however, giving Golden State possession under its basket with still 2.6 seconds left.
That’s when DiVincenzo, inbounding from the right side of the hoop, found Poole open on the weak side, and the high-scoring guard capped a 21-point night with the game winner in a crowd.
With no timeouts left, the Grizzlies watched time run out as they fell for the fourth straight time on a five-game trip.
Curry was ejected after leading a Golden State rally from a 111-102 deficit with 5:31 to play.
Golden State used a 14-2 run, with Curry contributing 10 of the points, to go up 116-113 with 1:55 to play.
Desmond Bane hit a free throw to cut the Memphis deficit to two, and when Thompson missed a jumper at the other end, a DiVincenzo offensive rebound allowed Golden State to retain possession.
But instead of running down the clock, Poole fired a 30-foot attempt that so angered Curry, he threw his mouthpiece into the stands on his way back on defense, earning a technical foul and automatic ejection.
Bane missed the technical, but when Morant scored on a drive with 1:02 to play, the game was tied and the stage was set for Poole’s heroics.
Curry led the Warriors with 34 points, followed by Thompson with 24. Poole found time for 7 assists to complement his 21 points, while Draymond Green chipped in 8 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks.
Jonathan Kuminga, starting in place of ill Andrew Wiggins, added 13 points for the Warriors, who have won both meetings with the Grizzlies this season after their tight playoff series last May.
Morant finished with 29 points and a game-high 12 assists for the Grizzlies, whose trip ends Friday at Minnesota.
Bane had 20 points, Clarke scored 19, Jaren Jackson Jr. 17, Santi Aldama 13, and Dillon Brooks 10 for Memphis, which will get two more shots at the defending champs – both at home – in March. (Rappler)
